The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-07-22

yet, is lt."
"Yes, it iy. And you've seen it worn. {"
John was puzzled, AMI felt sure he
had not, but Susan would give HIM no
further satisfaction on the subject Of
the silk dress.
AS spring approached she made few
suggestions as to the advisability of fire
wood being set to season in due timo.
But John, prompt and dilligent in prep
aration for seed time aud harvest, full
OF the best intentions regarding his
wifes comfort, still thought tlle wood
was one of the things which could be
looked to at any time, and Susan soon
gave over reminding him OF it.
One day in September lie came home
to dinner and found cold lunch wait
ing him. The house was clean and
quiet and cheerless; no wife there, but
n written line which ran:
"DEAR 3oHN-I nm going to spend
the day over at Mrs. Carter's. viii be
home in time to give you late supper"
He was glad to have her 90, for she
had had busy summer and needed n
little change. But there was day out
the next week and the next and the
next, until ho began to wonder OF
Susan's growing taste for eaddine
about. In early October he came homo
to find his woodward, which had still
remained empty, occupied by half q
dozen or so cords of first class wood,
with Sol. Carter and his two big BOYS
busy at it, and they worked until it was
stored up as before in tho shed. And
John felt cross, but asked no questions.
Where's Mrs. Barker" ?" sald a small
Garter boy to John, as he put up his
ba-s one evening.
she Is over to neighbor Grants.
You viii fineher there if you want her."
1T amt no matter You can tell her
here's the SEWN she's to do for mother.
and mother wants TO know If she can
come aud wash to our house to-mor.
row."
"The-old scratch she does ?" ey-
claimed John, turning on the bov in
blank emazement which rapidly grew
into anger. Mrs. Barker hire. out to
do washin' and sewm'? What dye
mean by comm to INC with such mes
sage, you young rascal?'
The astonished youngster dropped
bis sewing and applied his knuckles to
his eyes MS John advanced towards him.
thon ran with all his might Us the bun.
die came whining after him. And Sd
sans lord and master strobe in digni-
fed wrath down the road to meet her.
Susan don't understand this
there's been q young chap talhin' about
sewin' and washiu' for Mrs. Carter
What in all creation does it mean, Id
like to know"
Its all right" said Susan, compos
edly. "What was tho message?"
"Thnnderation You don't moan to
say you SOW und wash for other folks.
do your"
Eyes, do"
"And for what2n Is there anything
you2"
"Yes, John, there is. I want wood.
l can't saw and chop, but / can wash
and sew md do anything else woman
ought to do, and there's no blame to
mo for changing work / can do for
work | can't. I'm never,' Susan spoke
very firmly, but without q grain of irri-
tatlon, going to put up with poor,
badly cut, green wood again rs long as
can turn my woman's work into mans
work. I'd rather wash for somebody
every week, it's half the comfort of a
woman's life. You've never had to
wait for your dinner with the wood
sizzling in the stove and the fire not
burning since I've been providing the
wood"
John was dumbfounded.
And you've been working for Sol.
Carter's wife these two yearsl" he said,
III intense disgust.
No; my silk dress paid for last years
wood. l hated to let it go John, be-
cause you gave it me, but Tilda Carter
took fancy to it. 1t WAS she you saw
wearing it, and Susan laughed ut his
grunt of dissatisfaction with the whole
business
"You TO go letting mo down this way
before the Carter's!" he growled. And
If Mrs. Johns eyes flashed q little who
can blame her, as she answered:
If there's any letting down to do it's
your doing, not mino"
They finished their walk home in ST.
lence, and then John said:
Susan, will you louve the wood busi.
ness to mo after this Z"
"I'll try you, John" she said. d.--Phila
delphia Call.